That Website is Back

That website is back!

Today is Setsubun, but this has nothing to do with Setsubun.

For some reason, I found myself typing “2advanced.com” into my browser’s search bar. Then, to my surprise, a familiar and nostalgic website appeared.

“2Advanced Studios (2advanced.com)” is an interactive agency based in California. During the golden age of Flash in the 2000s, it was one of the most iconic web design firms of its time. At some point, however, the site stopped updating (you can check the details on the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine), and I assumed they had stepped away from the creative world.

From 2001 to 2002, I was enrolled in a multimedia and applied design course at Douglas Mawson Institute of Technology and Tea Tree Gully TAFE (both later merged into TAFE SA) in Adelaide, South Australia.

There, I learned everything from the fundamentals of design using Photoshop and Illustrator to website development with HTML and Flash, CD-ROM authoring with Director, and animation with After Effects and Maya.

At the time, my classmates and I were obsessed with Flash—both viewing and creating Flash content. Among all the Flash sites, 2Advanced Studios’ website stood out as the coolest. Everyone loved it and frequently visited it for inspiration.

Now, their Flash-based website from back then (V3 Expansions) has returned, almost exactly as it was, but without Flash. Even the splash page—a rare sight nowadays—is intact. It even has background music and sound effects! What a nostalgic feeling.

It feels as if time has stopped. No, more than that—it feels as though I’ve traveled back to 2001 or 2002.

Time moves on, and the world changes.

Among my former multimedia and applied design classmates, I believe only a handful—myself included—are still involved in web development, web design, animation, or related fields.

Tomorrow marks the beginning of spring.

I had almost forgotten.

The indescribable excitement I felt when I first started creating websites—the thrill of being so absorbed in the process that I lost track of time, forgetting to eat or sleep.

As I revisit this website, those feelings from back then are gradually coming back to me.

Tomorrow, I’ll start again with renewed energy.

What is Flash?

Flash was once a widely used platform for creating interactive web content, animations, and games. Originally developed by Macromedia and later acquired by Adobe, Flash gained immense popularity in the early 2000s. It enabled dynamic visual experiences and advanced design, allowing many creators to deliver rich web interactions. However, due to security issues and the rise of HTML5, official support for Flash ended on December 31, 2020, and it is no longer a mainstream technology.

AEDI is a web and graphic design company based in Kurashiki, Okayama, Japan.

We provide a range of services, including website development, WordPress integration, multilingual website creation, and UI/UX design for software and applications under our “Web Design Service.” Additionally, we offer “Graphic Design Service” for logos, business cards, shop cards, flyers, brochures, catalogs, and posters. Our “Motion Design Service” specializes in motion graphics and animations, while our “Character Design Service” focuses on creating mascot and game characters. Finally, we integrate these services to build cohesive brand identities through our “Brand Design Service.”

We serve clients not only in Okayama and Kurashiki but across Japan. If you have any inquiries regarding website creation or design services, please feel free to contact us.